Dean Void rattled off a few other details specific to certain classes and ended her address with a wish for everyone here at Gwimmermort to have a busy, happy and exciting trimester.  As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed a sandwich from a plate on the teacher's table, whispered something to Professor Khan and the two of them left the room via a side door.  As soon as she was out of the room, students and some of the other professors also began to make their exit.  Professors Pontifex and Shelton remained seated at the teacher's table, hungrily working through a variety of foods.

They are for sure.

Transitions are difficult.  Change stinks.  Heh.

Yeah, I've noticed a similar drop off after initial engagement in other Baldr games, they do need to improve how one can advertise a thing.  We did have better engagement with this one than the last one I tried on OGMW, so that is promising.

Yeah, I don't know.  It seems like a cool game, cool idea, but part of me thinks it is just this new Baldur thing that keeps it from working right yet.  I don't know if people just made applications, then stopped checking the site, or something?

I'm not really sure how to recruit here on Baldur once the game has fallen off the front page of the Games listing.  I could post something on OGMW, but that got zero traction last time. 

honestly, unless someone really wants to continue, I'd say we pull the plug on this game sadly. If we are going to try to keep it going, I'd say make another recruitment drive which should be easy-ish given we are barely in the first scene. My personal preference is to make an explicit decision to end or press on rather than fading away, hence this post.

Artie shrugged at the news.  "Eh, no, 'The third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death' type warnings this year, everything should be fine."  He took a sip at his drink.   "I don't need the money, of course, but it would be nice to get to the treasure first, if just for bragging rights.  I can bind and ask some of the school spirits and see what they can tell me.  There's probably already a limit on what they can say, but its worth a try."   The idea of just, well, not cheating, doesn't seem to have occurred to him.

So it is indeed Benenfort's handiwork - this should be interesting especially with those additional stories and the allure of loot as always. And the steady drumbeat of danger thumps as always there and everywhere. Ingwe muses. Something is certainly up, though. Looks like Pontifex and Shelton went and got their hair mussed. If something can rough up those two, we ought to worry somewhat. Perhaps I can run down some leads, maybe ol' Cornelion the potions master is willing to spill the beans on this in a few days once the rumors get good and spread. The weather could be mundane problems, I could post a letter to town asking for the latest National Weather Service report to see how the conventional climate is acting.    

As the students chattered and some looked liked they were getting ready to leave, a hush fell over the room in a great wave as Dean Void entered.  She swept up the center of the room between tables towards the teachers table.  While she looked as prim, crisp and clean as she always did Pontifex and Shelton, the Magical Life and Magical Defense teachers, were scuffed and dirty.  Their robes bore streaks of mud and grass stains, and Pontifex even had a black eye that was quickly fading away.  The teachers held the attention of the room as they approached the head table.  Squig froze the chess game in place and vanished the board as Pontifex and Shelton got settled.     Dean Void came to stand in front of the table.  When she spoke, her voice seemed to come from several different places above the tables, sounding down in perfect sync so that everyone in the large room could hear her as easily as if she was standing next to them.  "Welcome students!" she said, spreading her arms to encompass the room.  "I and the rest of the faculty and staff are happy to see all of you coming back, and so excited for all of you who are here for your first time.  By now you have all gotten settled in your rooms and have hopefully been enjoying the food and catching up with schoolmates.  Just a few notes for everyone before we start classes tomorrow."   "Firstly, there has been anomalous high winds and turbulence reported at altitudes above 320 meters.  It is highly recommended that everyone stay below 300 meters when flying until further advised.  Secondly, anyone approaching the marsh south of the lake should take care to wear reflective goggles, breathing protection and observe all posted instructions.  The Catoblepas herd is rutting, so the area is hazardous in more ways than one.  Thirdly, the Living Maze, under the care of Professor Benenfort, has actually managed to cultivate a second and third level to the maze.  There is some concern on the stability of the floors on these elevated levels, so it is highly recommended that anyone exploring those levels keep their broom with them in case of a fall.  The 'treasure chest' in the maze has also been restocked with new surprises.  Finally, as a fun event there has been a particular treasure hidden somewhere in the castle.  Clues will be issued periodically until it is claimed.  The first person to claim the prize will be rewarded with a special award package!  So good luck to everyone this semester.  Any last minute class change requests can be filed with my office."

Artie shrugged.  "If you think it's best, but we want to go out tonight, so if it needs to brew we will probably just do without for now," he said, off-handedly.  "If there's anything interesting out there, it might be best to see if we can catch something while they're young."

Nah, nothing too crazy my man. Just enjoying the vibes and the lack of academic rigor. Grew some herbs, enjoyed some herbs, ignored the summer reading, the usual. Ingwe says to Louis. Aye, we can't have a Catoblepas herd running amok turning some poor kid to stone. Ingwe muses, not wanting to give up on the current frivolity that has taken his eye.  I still think we could blunder around this fancy maze first, but we best be wary of those feral fauna the next few days. Maybe one of us could brew up a protective tonic before we go and try and sort that nonsense out. Fine, I'll do it I suppose. A bit of thyme, frogweed, crumpfumphel, the usual, some careful heat, and no harm will come to you.

"I heard they are trying to corral the Catoblepas herd before some newbie gets turned to stone.  Depetrification takes forever, you know." A fellow upperclassman, Louis Pander, said as he dropped onto the bench next to Artie. Both Ingwe and Artie knew him, as he has been a classmate for five years.  "How was your break?  Do anything cool?"

Artie listened to Ingwe's bragging, without saying much in response.  Mostly, he just enjoyed the meal, and the feel of being back at school.  At least here, the people he interacted with would be mostly actually alive, unlike home.   "Oh, I don't know," he commented, at Ingwe suggesting the evil and conspiracy.  In Artie's experience, Evil wasn't really all that organized.  Or all that bad, really.  "Seems more likely that they all caught Spell-Pox, or something.  No need to jump to conclusions."

I'm fine with that.  If the others want to jump in at some point they are welcome too.  I'll give the other two a chance to react to the suggestion about moving to the Maze, and then scoot the scene along on Monday at the lastest.

I'm kind of thinking the same.  I would like to play, but yeah, might just be with a small group?

I'm still happy to keep it going, but I agree I think that we can likely discount input from anyone who hasn't done an IC post by now. 

Kinda want to do a brief check in - do people want to keep this game going? I am still interested in this, but it sounds like interest is kinda on the wane and some people haven't posted since the IC stuff got rolling, so I assume they are out.

Glad to see you of you this fine evening. Even for someone who has been here a few years, and given how all this is going will be here for a few more - but I digress, I was saying there is an everlasting charm to this place that can make you smile even at the darkest times.   He pauses to scan the banners, smiling as he stopped on the foam flooded Alchemy labs. You know, they tried to pin that one on me, but my case was actually considerably helped by the fact that I was not responsible. Heck, if I had been , the foam would have been there a lot longer, and lavender isn't my thing either. But fair enough to them, when I did "volunteer" to help with the cleanup, I was intending to turn all those bubbles into marbles that bounced around the halls for a week while squeaking dirty lyrics.   A glance at the faculty table and absences were carefully noted. I suppose Luna, Hegemon, and Colonel Shelton are off having a conference of some sorts. It's strange though, missing the dinner. Perhaps a few quiet questions could clear this up. Maybe it's nothing - or maybe it's a portent of a torrent of otherworldly EVIL!   - at this comical rejoinder, Ingwe sat back and chuckled. After the meal, he kindled a pale magical light with a snap of his fingers, playfully tossed a compass in one hand, and headed towards the maze.

The large dining hall was abuzz with activity and conversations.  Minor magics were being cast here and there, but everyone seemed more interested in catching up with friends, eating, or just looking around and taking it all in than doing anything too flashy.  At the far end of the room a long table was set perpendicular to the student tables, and much of the faculty were seated there.  The center chair that was reserved for Dean Void was empty, but almost all of the other teachers were seated there.  Porfenshousen and Brandtweasel were talking to each other, and Isobel Khan was obviously listening to their conversation.  Sprig, Brandersnatch, Walsh and X have cleared off part of the table and are in the middle of a game of 4-way 3-D mage chess.  Walsh's king-side dragon was in position to block down much of the upper boards, but Sprig and X were building towards a St. George offense to break that control. Benenfort sat by himself trimming a small bonsai tree that moved and twisted in an unfelt wind.  In addition to Void, Pontiflex and Shelton were noticeable absences.   The walls of the dining hall were decorated with large animated banners showing notable scenes of student activities and classes from last trimester.  That time one of the Alchemy labs was completely filled with lavender scented foam for a nearly a day.  When the student choir put of their performance of Pippin. A heard of griffin flying over the peak of the castle, students perched on their backs.  A team of students on brooms flying in formation through an aerial obstacle course.  A student's hand sticking out of the top of a hedge.  A group of students gathered around a large amethyst colored dragon that was speaking while pointing to various parts of it's anatomy, Hegemon Pontiflex standing nearby. Dean Void speaking to a group of upperclassmen in a classroom.  Major Shelton demonstrating a charm defense to a group of underclassmen.  Scene after scene of a busy and apparently happy and harmonious school life.

Artie shrugged, after a moment.  He smiled back at Meera, glad she hadn't been eaten by that book, but otherwise not too aware of what she had been up to the last several years.  As a first-born, he knew nothing of her family, and didn't really consider her to be all that important, but she seemed nice enough.   "Hey.  How was your first day back?"

At the start of the day, Meera was in the back seat, her parents driving a green Subaru Forester and listening to music and playing on her phone, ignoring her parents rambling about building character and the importance of education, until it was time to drop her off at the bright white stucco building the school used for its mundane operations.  She found herself caught in a pair of tight hugs, mum's eyes a touch wet. She heard her dad's stern reminder to focus on her studies, and it was bouncing off her back as she practically danced up the stairs to join Mr. Grey, the administrator for mundanes for today, and the groundskeeper for the rest of the year.  Mr. Grey stood by, waving the Greens off with a calm smile, until it was absolutely clear they were gone down the windy way, then he was giving Meera a parcel of her school gear, and she nearly snatched her broom out of his hands. Then, it was out the back of the building, turn this way, then that, and suddenly, she had made it to the grounds - she was already late, after all - mum had insisted on a wild breakfast to make up for sending her away.   She emerged into the cacophony and excitement of the other students - and relief settled on her as Hector, her nightingale, flew down and landed on her shoulder.  "There you are!" she exclaimed.     The first day was exceptionally busy - and her class, being underclassmen, still had orientation and reminders and exhortations to sign up for clubs and community service, and she emerged from the meetings with schoolbooks, orientation packets, and with more flyers for activities than she could possibly absorb.   At dinner, it was short work for Hector and her to find Artie and Ingwe, and she sat down with them with a light wave and smile.       

Catching up this weekend (tomorrow)!

Arthur Fichal   Artie also kept to himself after arriving, although in his case it mostly involved laying protective circles around his possessions, less talking to others and walking around.  He made himself known to the newbies, mostly as a matter of course, as one of them might be useful to network with at some point, but he didn't care to do much more than look impressive and show off his expensive tastes.    Eventually, when it was dinner time, he went and sat down next to Ingwe.  At least there was a familiar face, and he needed to meet up with him at some point if they were going to explore the Maze.

Anyone need help getting their character started on their way to school?